Missing
When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers... and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.
Despite its limited budget of $7.0M, Missing became a massive hit, earning $45.1M worldwide—a remarkable 544% return. The film's compelling narrative found its audience, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Missing (2023) exhibits precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Nicholas D. Johnson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes June is a typical teenager, distant from her mother Grace, immersed in her digital life and planning to party while her mom goes on vacation.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Grace fails to meet June at the airport as planned. June cannot reach her mother by phone or text. Grace has vanished in Colombia.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to June decides to take matters into her own hands, using digital tools to investigate her mother's disappearance herself. She actively chooses to become a detective., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat June discovers Kevin is actually a con artist who has done this before. She believes he kidnapped or killed her mother. The stakes raise dramatically - this is no longer just a missing person, but potentially murder., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, June discovers what she believes is her mother's body. Grace appears to be dead. This is June's darkest moment - the literal "death" of her mother and her hope., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. June discovers a crucial clue that reveals the truth: her mother staged everything. Grace is the criminal, not Kevin. June synthesizes all the digital evidence with this new perspective., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Missing's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Missing against these established plot points, we can identify how Nicholas D. Johnson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Missing within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
June is a typical teenager, distant from her mother Grace, immersed in her digital life and planning to party while her mom goes on vacation.
Theme
Grace tells June "You can't always trust what you see online" - establishing the film's central theme about digital deception and the gap between perception and reality.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to June's world: her strained relationship with her mother, her digital-native lifestyle, Grace's plans to travel to Colombia with her new boyfriend Kevin. Establishes June's character as self-absorbed but capable.
Disruption
Grace fails to meet June at the airport as planned. June cannot reach her mother by phone or text. Grace has vanished in Colombia.
Resistance
June debates how to respond, contacts authorities who are unhelpful, considers waiting. She struggles with whether to take action herself, feeling powerless and frightened.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
June decides to take matters into her own hands, using digital tools to investigate her mother's disappearance herself. She actively chooses to become a detective.
Mirror World
June hires Javi, a gig-worker in Colombia, to help her investigate on the ground. This relationship represents collaboration and trust - themes that mirror her broken relationship with her mother.
Premise
June explores the digital world, hacking accounts, finding clues, discovering Kevin's identity is fake. The "promise of the premise" - watching her use technology to uncover the truth, digital detective work.
Midpoint
June discovers Kevin is actually a con artist who has done this before. She believes he kidnapped or killed her mother. The stakes raise dramatically - this is no longer just a missing person, but potentially murder.
Opposition
The FBI gets involved but moves slowly. June's investigation intensifies, finding more disturbing evidence. Kevin stays ahead of her. Pressure mounts as time runs out.
Collapse
June discovers what she believes is her mother's body. Grace appears to be dead. This is June's darkest moment - the literal "death" of her mother and her hope.
Crisis
June processes the devastating loss, consumed by grief and guilt over her strained relationship with her mother. Dark night of the soul.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
June discovers a crucial clue that reveals the truth: her mother staged everything. Grace is the criminal, not Kevin. June synthesizes all the digital evidence with this new perspective.
Synthesis
June races to find her mother before she escapes. The finale includes the confrontation with Grace, revelation of her crimes, and June using all her digital skills combined with emotional growth to save herself and bring her mother to justice.
Transformation
June, now mature and self-reliant, video chats with her mother in prison. Despite everything, they maintain a connection. June has transformed from self-absorbed teenager to capable, forgiving adult.